of Diezmero. San Miguel del Padrón
Mother’s address: Capitán Miranda #11205 between Mario Díaz and Calzada de
San Miguel.
Diezmero
San Miguel del Padrón
Family contact member: Carmen Pereira Jiménez (Mother) or wife
SAN JOSÉ DE LAS LAJAS
6. Héctor Raúl Valle Hernández
Sentence: Case #4 of 2003, 12 years’ imprisonment. Violation of Law 88
Prison: Guanajay, Havana Province
_ Family address: Calle 40 #6123 between 61 and 65, San José de las Lajas
Family contact member: Darelys Velázquez Falcón (wife)
Miguel Galbán Gutiérrez, imprisoned journalist. In 1999,
he was expelled from his workplace for holding different
ideas from those of the regime. He was imprisoned in
2003 and is serving a sentence of 26 years.
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com 36
Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
Defenders of Democracy and Human Rights
Democratic Workers Federation of Cuba
Defends free trade unionism without
government sponsorship or control
Vice President: Héctor Raúl Valle Hernández
* Political prisoner
_ Address: Calle 40 # 6123 between 61
and 65, SAN JOSÉ DE LAS LAJAS
National Independent Workers
Confederation of Cuba
Havana province provincial delegate:
Emilio González Torres
_ Address: Avenida 89, between 44 and
46 #416. Alturas del Río, GÜINES
‡„Tel.: 5362 23895
E-mail: Marthaidapaso@yahoo.es
Carlos Castro Álvarez
(Decorum Work Group)
_ Address: Calle 70 #5703
Between 57 and 59,
SAN ANTONIO DE LOS BAÑOS, 32500
December 10 Movement
Promotes free exchange of ideas
Director: José Patricio Armas
_ Address: GÜINES
Union of Rural Youth
Promotes a project of alternative development
for youth in rural zones
Director: Yamila Iturralde Aguila
_ Address: Calle 2 No. 325 Central
Abraham Lincoln
ARTEMISA
‡„Tel.: 63-3314
Occidental Press Agency (APO)
Director: Rafael Peraza Fonte
_ Address: Calle 17 A - 3206 between
32 and 34, District of Erix
ARTEMISA - Havana 33800
College of Engineers and Architects
Independent professionals for freedom of
expression and intellectual creativity.
Director: Atty. Miguel Galbán
* Political prisoner
_ Address: Calle 52 # 9914 between 99
and 103, GÜINES
‡„Tel.: 7-8-30-21-03
Latin American Federation of Rural
Women (FLAMUR)
Luz María Barceló Padrón
_ Address: C/ 40 # 2906 between 29
and 33. SAN JOSÉ DE LAS LAJAS
‡„Tel.: 47-86-5952
Héctor Raúl Valle (in the photo above, in blue striped shirt) with other political activists.
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com 37
Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
City of Havana
City of Havana (Havana), formerly San Cristóbal de la Habana, is the capital of the Cuban
Republic; with over two million inhabitants, it is also the Caribbean’s most populous city. It
was founded by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar in the year 1515.
Havana is a capital three times over. Besides being the capital of the Cuban republic, it is
the capital of its eponymous province (City of Havana) and the surrounding Havana province
as well. It constitutes the principal tourism focus for the entire island, and offers a mix of
beaches, landmarks and socio-cultural traditions.
As for its economy, it is based fundamentally on industry and services. It is also the seat of
the political and economic administration of the country. Some of the most important industries
include: foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, light industry, fisheries, textiles,
petroleum refining, cigar and tobacco factories, and steelworks. The harbor is the largest in
Cuba, and is mainly used in the loading and unloading of goods. Agricultural lands make up
33% of the province’s area, with forested areas accounting for 4%. City of Havana contributes
43% to the nation’s GDP, a figure that indicates the city’s importance to the national economy.
Population: 2,163,824 inhabitants
Area: 723.92 km2
Municipalities: Arroyo Naranjo, Boyeros, Centro Habana (Havana
Center), Cerro, Cotorro, Diez de Octubre, Guanabacoa, la Habana del
Este (East Havana), La Habana Vieja (Old Havana), La Lisa, Marianao,
Playa, Plaza, Regla and San Miguel del Padrón
*Characteristics: Havana is a legendary city, occupying a pre-eminent
position as a key center of important cultural and historical riches (monuments,
theaters, etc.), as well as its place as Cuba’s capital and seat of
government.
What You Should See:
_ Old Havana. Part of this area is actually a museum: The National Capitol, the Cathedral, and the
Main Square (Plaza de Armas). There is another section that is extremely run-down – and just a
short walk outside the main tourist haunts provides ample evidence of this
_ The Castillo del Morro, a castle built on the headland (morro) by the Spanish to defend the
entrance to the bay
_ The Havana Seawall or “Malecón” is an unparalleled attraction! The Malecón has various historical
landmarks along its length, such as the monument to those lost aboard the USS Maine –
whose sinking in Havana harbor was a catalyst for the United States’ entry into the 1898 Spanish-
American War. There is also the equestrian statue of General Calixto García. If you take some
time to stroll around, you will see some once-beautiful buildings that are now sadly quite dilapidated
_ The Vedado and Miramar neighborhoods. Vedado is one of the liveliest neighborhoods (or
barrios), with numerous hotels and music bars. Miramar is considered a luxurious address and
is the favored district of diplomats
What You Should Know:
_ The city’s Old Havana or La Habana Vieja has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO
_ The Municipality of Guanabacoa is renowned as a center of the Afro-Cuban santería cult
_ The beachside town of Cojímar, to the city’s east, was a favorite fishing destination of Ernest
Hemingway. It was here he found the inspiration for “The Old Man and the Sea”
The Quaint and Curious:
_ The city was the setting for the films “Strawberry and Chocolate” and “Havana Blues”
_ There are a great number of religious cults in Havana, ranging from Christian beliefs to the saint
worship or “santería” stemming from Afro-Cuban traditions, as well as Oriental philosophies
_ Lovers of ice cream will find the famous Coppelia ice-cream parlor in the Vedado neighborhood.
First opened in 1965, it featured in the movie Strawberry and Chocolate. However, don’t go along
expecting a wide range of flavors or exceptional quality because Cuba’s state-sponsored capita-
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com 38
Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
A look at…
Here, we offer a brief look at two defenders of democracy in Cuba. One is a women’s collective
known as The Ladies in White [“Las Damas de Blanco”], the other a pro-democracy
group that launched the Varela Project, coordinated by Oswaldo Payá. Both are recognized
in Cuba and abroad, having won column space for themselves with the international press,
and a place in the hearts of their fellow citizens. Both the Ladies in White and Payá are recipients
of the Sakharov Prize for Human Rights, which is awarded annually by the European
Parliament.
Las Damas de Blanco (The Ladies in White)
The Ladies in White are a group of women comprised of the wives and relatives of the political
prisoners who were unjustly incarcerated by the Cuban Government in March 2003.
Tireless defenders of human rights, the Ladies in White came into being in 2003, following
Cuba’s “Black Spring” wave of government crackdowns. Their objective was very clear: to
seek amnesty for their loved ones and all Cuban prisoners of conscience.
Through their courage, they have shown the entire world that an open call for rights and freedoms
in Cuba might be a brave act, but not an impossible one. Moreover, their friendly bearing
and gentle demeanor prove this kind of activism can also be an act of peace and love.
Every Sunday after attending mass, the Ladies in White walk in silence down Miramar
Avenue and other Havana streets, calling for the release of their loved ones. Dressed all in
white and carrying photographs of these prisoners of conscience, they give out white gladioli
and pray as they go.
The Ladies also hold periodic meetings in which they discuss the situation of the prisoners
and share their experiences and feelings. And, of course, they continually address both Cuba
and the world to denounce the abuses committed against their imprisoned family members.
The Ladies in White call for the freeing of their husbands through song and prayer. Every Sunday, these tireless women
walk through the Miramar District calling for an amnesty for family members who have been unjustly imprisoned.
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com
39
Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
Their situation, however – despite the hope
they continue to nurture – is difficult, since in
addition to suffering the absence of their relatives,
they must also endure Government
reprisals. On various occasions, they have
been subjected to threats, coercion and dissuasive
maneuverings by the Castro regime,
aimed at silencing their voices. But to no avail
because the streets now belong to the Ladies
in White, and the dignity of all humankind
walks with them side-by-side.
For more information:
http://www.damasdeblanco.com/
Visitors to Cuba, please lend your support
Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, the Varela Project and the All Cubans program
Oswaldo Payá is the best-known Cuban democrat on and off the island, and leader of the
Christian Liberation Movement [Movimiento Cristiano Liberación] human rights group.
Under his coordination, the Varela Project has been promoted by hundreds of activists across
the island and signed by tens of thousands of Cubans. It is undoubtedly the most successful
Cuban opposition initiative of recent times. The project is centered on a legislative bill with
grounds in the actual Cuban constitution, which seeks to reform the Cuban political system
by using “law to make law” and achieve a peaceful transition to democracy.
The Varela Project proposes a popular vote on:
freedom of expression and free press, freedom
of association, amnesty for political prisoners
who have not threatened the lives of others,
economic freedom, and a free electoral and
democratic framework.
This proposal has been promoted by Cuban
citizens from within the country, in order for
Cubans themselves to decide whether or not
the changes Cuba needs are to be made. For
the first time, the Cuban Government feels cornered
by its own contradictions, and on the
defensive against a Cuban initiative calling for
the right to vote on the desired changes.
More than 24,000 Cubans have already made
the free and conscious decision to put their signatures
to the Varela Project. These signatures provided the support to put the project before
the National Assembly of Popular Power on May 10, 2002, and again on October 3, 2003.
Accordingly, besides being lawful under the terms of the Constitution, it also qualifies as a
draft bill because it has collected 10,000 signatures on two occasions. Oswaldo Payá received
the Sakharov Prize for Human Rights from the European Parliament in 2002.
Recently, Payá has advanced the “All
Cubans” [“Todos Cubanos”] initiative. A participatory
project with contributions by thousands
of Cubans, it has culminated in the
drafting of a democratic constitution with
accompanying legislation for the country’s
transition to democracy. For more information:
http://www.solidaridadconcuba.com/oswaldo/oswaldo.asp
Payá presents “Todos Cubanos”, a new
project that lays the foundation for a democratic constitution
for Cuba.
AP
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com 40
Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
Churches
Seventh Day Adventist
Church
_ Gertrudis 109
Lawton
Tel. 98-6566
Baptist Church
_Maceo 62
Guanabacoa
Tel. 97-7853
Baptist Church
_Rabi 824
Santos Suarez
Tel. 40-2402
Baptist Church
Aposento Alto
_Ave. S. Allende 607
Havana Center
Tel. 79-8130
Betel Baptist Church
_211 No. 519
Marianao
Tel. 22-2870
La Víbora Baptist
Church
_S. Anastasio 614
Víbora
Tel. 98-6776
Regla Baptist Church
_Martí 619
Regla
Tel. 97-8589
Ebenezer Baptist Church
_Ave. 53 No. 9609
Marianao
Tel. 20-3940
Calvary Baptist Church
_Ignacio Agramonte 502
Old Havana
Tel. 61-1195
El Jordan Baptist Church
_5ta. No. 13923
Guanabacoa
Tel. 97-7175
William Carey Baptist
Church
_Calle J No. 555
Vedado
Tel. 32-2250, 33-3637
Open Bible Church
_198 No. 28907
Consuelo
Tel. 45-1905
Chapel of Saint Joseph
_Ayestarán 194
Ayestarán
Tel. 70-3082
Cathedral of Havana
_Empedrado 156
Old Havana
Tel. 61-7771
Catholic Church of the
Holy Guardian Angel
_Compostela 2
Old Havana
Tel. 61-0469
Catholic Parish Church
of Our Lady of the
Candelmas
_285 No. 27619
Wajai
Tel. 45-4976
Catholic Church of the
Sacred Heart
_Varona 16
Tel. 44-1853
Central Methodist Church
_Virtudes 152
Havana Center
Tel. 63-6641
Corpus Christi Church
_146 No. 904
Cubanacan
Tel. 33-7175
Church of God in Cuba
_90-B No. 6102
Marianao
Tel. 20-2146
Carmel Church
_Linea 1114
Vedado
Tel. 3-4789
Cuban Church of the
Nazarene
_Ave. 47 No. 5414
Marianao
Tel. 22-2922
Cuban Church of the
Nazarene
_251 No. 2601
Punta Brava
Tel. 29-9367
Our Lord of The Sainted
Calvary Church
_2da and Gertrudis
Víbora
Tel. 99-3316
Episcopal Church of Cuba
_Ave. de Italia 462-A
Havana Center
Tel. 33-3293
Church of the
Escolapians
_Máximo Gómez
Guanabacoa
Tel. 97-7241
Holy Spirit Church
_Acosta 161
Old Havana
Tel. 62-3410
Free Evangelical Church
_Ave. 71 No. 12834
Marianao
Tel. 20-6583
Churches and Donation Collection Centers
Contact Information: Centers for Donations, Prisoners and Activists
Spanish Solidarity with Cuba - www.solidaridadconcuba.com 41
Los Pinos Nuevos
Evangelical Church
_Suárez 58
Old Havana
Tel. 61-3384
Pentecostal Evangelical
Church
_Calzada de Infanta
1251
Havana Center
Tel. 70-0350
Pentecostal Evangelical
Church
_Calzada 10 de Octubre
769
A. Apolo
Tel. 91-4282, 44-6945
Immaculate Church
_Prensa 302
Cerro
Tel. 40-2876
Jesús of Miramar Church
_Ave. 5a No. 8003
Marianao
Tel. 23-5301
Church of Charity
_ Manrique 570
Havana Center
Tel. 61-0945
Our Lady of Mercy
Church
_Cuba 806
Old Havana
Tel. 63-8873
Miraculous Virgin Church
_San Andres 6
Guanabacoa
Tel. 97-7961
Miraculous Virgin Church
_Santos Suárez 366
Santos Suárez
Tel. 41-8449
The First Church of God
_Aldabó and 10
Los Pinos
Tel. 44-1032
Mary The Helper
Church
_Brasil 311
Old Havana
Tel. 61-1446
Mary The Helper Church
_Calzada del Cerro 1239
Cerro
Tel. 70-7301
Methodist Church
of Cuba
_54 No. 3302
Marianao
Tel. 23-4936
Methodist Church
of Playa
_58 No. 4305
Playa
Tel. 29-3064
Methodist Church
of Playa
_58 No. 4306
Playa
Tel. 23-0456
Montserrat Church
_Ave. de Italia y
Concordia
Havana Center
Tel. 63-1889
Our Lady of Charity
Church
_Calzada de Bejucal
2317
A. Apolo
Tel. 44-3211
Our Lady of Charity
Church
_298 and Ave. 1ra-B
Santa Fé
Tel. 29-7480
Our Lady of the
Guard Church
_Ntra. Sra. de Regla
y Quiroga
Luyanó
Tel. 99-1227
Parish Church of
Christ the King
_Ermita 223
Ayestarán
Tel. 81-6492
Parish Church of
Christ the Savior
_130 and Avd. 45
Marianao
Tel. 20-1052
Parish Church of Jesus
and Mary
_Revillagigedo 303
Old Havana
Tel. 63-7586
Parish Church of
Puentes Grandes San
Jerónimo
_Calzada de Puentes
Grandes 25-A
Puentes Grandes
Tel. 40-5033
Parish Church of
Saint Ann
_J.A. Bañuls and M.
Grajales
C. Florido
Tel. 96-3924
Parish Church of el Cerro
_Sto. Tomás and Peñón
Cerro
Tel. 41-5772
Parish Church of the
Sacred Heart of Vedado
_Línea and C
Vedado
Tel. 32-6807
Our Lady of the Guard
Parish Church
_Santuario 11
Regla
Tel. 97-6228
Our Lady of Carmen
Parish Church
_Calzada de Infanta
and Neptuno
Havana Center
Tel. 78-5168, 70-1196
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Tourism and Solidarity Guide to Cuba
Our Lady of the Pillar
Parish Church
_S. Jacinto 11
Cerro
Tel. 70-7027
Saint Augustine
Parish Church
_Aved. 37 No. 4208
La Sierra
Tel. 29-5196 Fax. 24-9276
Saint Francis of Paula
Parish Church
_M. Rodriguez 804
La Víbora
Tel. 41-5037
Saint Francis Xavier
Parish Church
_Avd. 51 No. 10620
Marianao
Tel. 20-7598
Saint Judas and
Saint Nicholas
Parish Church
_S. Nicolas 830
Old Havana
Tel. 63-3987
Parish Church
_E. Giral 331
Guanabacoa
Tel. 97-7368
Parish Church
_474 No. 703
Guanabacoa
Tel. 96-4241
Parish Church of
Puentes Grandes
_Calzada Puentes
Grandes 25-A
Puentes Grandes
Tel. 81-2839
Christ of the Good
Voyage Parish Church
_Villegas and Amargura
Old Havana
Tel. 63-1767
Presbyterian Church
_Sta. Felicia 259
Luyanó
Tel. 98-4818
Reformed Presbyterian
Church
_Reforma 560
Luyanó
Tel. 33-9621
Reformed Presbyterian
Church
_Salud 218
Havana Center
Tel. 62-1219
Reformed Presbyterian
Church
_Salud 222
Havana Center
Tel. 62-1239
Tel. 33-8819 (Offices)
Queen Church
Avd. de Bolivar 463
_Havana Center
Tel. 62-4979 (Curia P.P.
Jesuits) Tel. 33-8460
(Offices)
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